Blogs from Sihanoukville, South, Cambodia, Asia - page 64

For a pleasant change the bus journey South to Sihanoukville was straightforward and uneventful. We were slightly peterbed to discover, however, that Sihanoukville doesn't have and tuk-tuks, and that travel is only by motorbike (or "moto" at the locals call them). This wouldn't normally be a problem, however it's not quite so comfortable when you include a rucksack and take into account the locals driving! We headed to the West beach of the headland which is the main traveller area (i.e. where the cheap accommodation is). For the first night we stayed in a bungalow not far from the beach, but decided to relocate due to the number of insects freely entering through the many holes in the walls and an uneffective mosquitto net. After settling into a better place further up the hill we had ... read more

Sihanoukville - Cambodia's version of Blackpool but without the tack and the tarts and with added sun! It's a very nice beach town with those picture perfect white beaches and palm trees. It's just like walking into a postcard. First afternoon after arriving from Phnom Penh we headed down to the beach for a bit a relax and chill out from the long drive! Went for a swim in the sea which is honsetly like swimming in a bath because it's that warm. It's pretty cool to be in a sea that warm and it certainly makes a pleasent change from going into the sea around England and coming out with hypothermia! The next day we went to Bokor Hill Station which was built by the French in the 1920s to use as a high class ... read more

It was 7 weeks since we'd seen a beach!! Shocking we know. It was the Buddhist New Year whilst we were in Sihanoukville so the place was rammed with Khmer families celebrating. They love the sea and once in they don't really get out for the rest of day, way after it gets dark anyway. They also like to swim fully clothed. Something to do with decency we're sure but it's quite funny to see them turn up in their new outfit of jeans and jacket and then just jump in! A big surprise here was that our accomodation was free!! We stayed with a family who run one of the beach shacks. ... read more

I am writing this in the newly remodeled Phnom Penh airport in Cambodia’s capital city, and I have to say I have never seen an airport that is less representative of the city in which it was built. This airport, which was looted and destroyed in the coup just a few years ago, is now nicer and more modern than most airports in the States. As I sit here in big, comfy lounge chairs drinking a $2USD bottle water (which I would have paid 20 cents for just across the street from a woman on the corner) and a $4 Panini (about the price of a steak down the road), I am watching big Philips plasma televisions broadcasting tourist sites around the country. The marble floors in the bookstore must have cost more to put in ... read more

So we decided that we were sick of being sick and cooped up in our room in Phnom Penh so we decided to set off for Sihanoukville, a few hours away on the Southern Coast. We got a room overlooking Victory beach - a fantastic view and a great breeze which aided in our recovery. Our days here were spent relaxing, wandering the peaceful shores and dancing in the waves and making up for lost time at Roses' where we had some Fish & Chips the Maunganui chip shop would have been proud of. We also spent one day out on a boat exploring some of the islands nearby - a day of sun, sand, swimming and snorkeling. The water was a little murky and everyone said that Thailand was better for undersea action, but the ... read more